Compare towns
Ira vs Waltham vs Castleton vs Mount Tabor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waltham has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Mount Tabor has the most expensive homes ($421k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Ira | Waltham | Castleton | Mount Tabor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381 |
452 |
4,453Highest |
304Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
57.8±10.6 34% above VT |
| Waltham and Mount Tabor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.5%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
42.4%±18.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Waltham and Mount Tabor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1% VT: 43.8% |
39%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$97,500±$14kHighest 20% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
— |
| Waltham and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$329,700±$51k 4% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$420,500±$76kHighest 33% above VT |
| Mount Tabor and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,096±$113 11% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$2,143±$367Highest 74% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146 18% below VT |
$5,714Highest 13% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,233 4% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
11% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.3% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1946Lowest 30 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
46 minHighest 94% above VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Waltham and Mount Tabor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.